Channel Publications aims for IIP

CHANNEL Publications could soon achieve the Investors in People standard. Publishing director Barry Wells said the company had recently signed up to the training regime and was working hard towards gaining IIP status. 'We are confident that we will get there in the next few weeks. It is important for us as a growing business,' he said.

The company will have to meet 10 indicators based on best practice.

'As a consequence it is important that we focus on our staff so that they have a clear idea of where they are going and IIP will achieve what we want to do.

'It is quite intensive on staff and management making sure we achieve our aims and goals. And it won't stop once we have achieved it: the important thing is to continue appraisals and team briefings. As a company grows, people can get lost so it is important to understand where they are.'

Channel Publications is also pleased to have made the shortlist for the Awards for Achievement. 'We felt it was an acknowledgement of all we have achieved this year.'

Those achievements include the growth of Channel Publications' flagship magazine 24se7en which has been relaunched in a more compact size. It was launched in Guernsey two-and-a-half years ago and in Jersey two years ago.

'It is very demanding, week in, week out. The key to it is to progress and not stay as we are and to think of ways of bringing the magazine forward.'

Other publications include the Perry's Guide and tourist publication packs, Guernsey Recommended, 200,000 of which are produced annually.

Mr Wells said another success was the coffee-table book titled Chris George's Guernsey.

'It is a collection of photographs and has been an important part of what we have launched.

'It sold extremely well over Christmas and included an aerial view which puts each photo into context so that people can identify it.'

There is also a map marking the exact spot where the photograph was captured.

'We spent a lot of time on it.

'There are a lot of picture books of Guernsey and we wanted to do something different from what had gone before. I think we have achieved that.'

There is a second division to Channel Publications called Partners in Print - a design and print-buying service which has also grown rapidly during the last 18 months.

Mr Wells said the company had many exciting plans for the year ahead.

'We have lots of ideas for this year that will come to fruition but it is difficult to say what they are in a competitive market.

'In 12 months' time we hope to be progressing from where we are now and continue to develop our existing publications and find new niches that we can fill.'